Jane Fonda's big life has included Barbarella, activism, three husbands, workout videos and hair epiphanies. Now in her 80s, she's devoting her energy to raising awareness about climate change Jane has lived her entire life in the public eye, as the daughter of acting aristocracy. Her father Henry Fonda was a Hollywood legend by the time she was born. Jane grew up to study acting with Lee Strasberg, and Marilyn Monroe was a classmate. Then she went to Paris where she fell in love with French film director Roger Vadim, who cast her in a camp sci-fi romp called Barbarella. But behind the public adoration, Jane was battling some big personal demons, including bulimia and the legacy of a shocking family tragedy. In her 30s she began re-assessing her life and work, and became a leader of the anti-Vietnam War movement, earning her the nickname of Hanoi Jane from the American Press. After the Vietnam War ended, she remained committed to political activism, so she released a series of workout videos to help fund change in America. After two more marriages, Jane had an epiphany about her 'third act' of life. She decided to devote it to helping change the world, and in her 80s she now devotes most of her time to raising awareness about climate change.   Further information What Can I Do? is published by HarperCollins To binge even more great episodes of the ‘Conversations podcast’ with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, singers, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.    

How the theatre tamed a wild child and helped him take on the world   Wesley was a violent child who was expelled from school more than once until a teacher took him under her wing and introduced him to acting. Wesley credits the theatre with turning his life around completely, and he became a prolific playwright and director. His plays include the award-winning 7 Stages of Grieving, which he wrote with Deb Mailman. Wesley made a vow to himself he would become Artistic Director of the Queensland Theatre Company by the time he was 40. It was a dream he accomplished in 2010, making him the first Indigenous Australian to head a state theatre company. First broadcast October 2010 To binge even more great episodes of the ‘Conversations podcast’ with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, singers, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Over four nights in 2004 Paul Kelly performed a hundred of his songs in alphabetical order. On stage he told the stories behind the songs - of his family and friends, his years on the road, and recording his many albums. Paul put these stories together in his book - a memoir and songwriting masterclass melded together and named for one of his most beautiful and popular songs: How to Make Gravy, published by Penguin. To binge even more great episodes of the ‘Conversations podcast’ with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, singers, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities. Broadcast date: Tuesday 12 October 2010

Broadcast date: Thursday 1st October 2009